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Police union slams shake-up

Nick McKenzie

Victoria's Police Union has slammed plans to overhaul the school that trains police to become detectives, describing as "ridiculous" moves to boost the number of female or non-police instructors.

The Age yesterday reported the Victoria Police Academy's School of Investigation would be subject to a major shake-up, after a high-level inquiry found evidence of nepotism, the bullying of anti-corruption detectives and misogyny at the school.

The inquiry was triggered last year after two anti-corruption investigators, working as instructors, complained of severe ostracism and harassment.

Police Association assistant secretary Bruce McKenzie said the inquiry's recommendation to increase the number of female staff to at least 25% lacked merit.

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"All of the staff attached to Crime Courses Unit should have a strong investigative background, irrespective of whether they are men or women," he said. Inspector McKenzie also attacked plans to appoint some teaching staff who have never served as police.

"It is ridiculous to have teaching staff with a non-police background. Doctors are involved in the training of doctors, lawyers are involved in the training of lawyers, police have to be involved with the training of police," he said. But a police spokeswoman said the inquiry called for changes to the "male-dominated" culture at the school and the appointment of civilian instructors with expertise in the law and forensic science.

"There is no suggestion that police won't be involved in the training of police, however we have identified a need to include more subject-matter experts," the spokeswoman said.

"There is also a need for a greater number of people with academic backgrounds."

The union and force command have also clashed over whether some staff will be shifted out of the academy, with the association claiming officers were told the inquiry would not call for punitive measures.

Deputy Commissioner Simon Overland has described the culture at the school as out-dated and hostile to anti-corruption investigators.